Abstract

Across Europe social democracy is in crisis. The countries which form its collective home, Britain, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy and France, are all currently governed by centre right parties. It seems that change to European social democracy is essential. The contributors to this volume look at what kind of change this might be. In the last decade European social democracy has ceased to be about either society or democracy. In government it has embraced liberal economic principles that undermined solidarity and association. Along the way the idea of the common good has been lost and there is no vision of a 'Good Society'. The authors explore the values of European social democracy, how it can be revived and what kind of political economy it requires in order to thrive. An international group of distinguished academics address these issues and look at how European social democracy can be used the build the Good Society. The Future of European Social Democracy also includes a foreword and appendix by the two leaders of the 'Building the Good Society' project on which the book is based, Andrea Nahles and Jon Cruddas.